(Originally published in NewsMax.)
Recent Changes May Be Giving Police Much Needed Support, But . . . Why Isn’t President Joe Biden Fully on board?
Since 2020, we’ve heard the scream of “Defund the Police!”
These cries demand reform even in situations not calling for it.
Yet, it’s beginning to sound as though some states are finally understanding that they actually need police officers to keep their communities safe.
That said, this doesn’t mean everyone is listening to the argument.
The Washington Post recently discussed how increases in crime are forcing some states to “unravel” certain restrictive reforms.
While not every state is on board with the policies, it’s a sign of some kind of progress.
Several reforms were enacted following the “Defund the Police!” movement.
Those tweaks resulted in millions of dollars for officer support being shelved.
Officers retired; others straight up left their jobs.
Why?
They quickly saw that their local governments wouldn’t support them.
Some police officers even committed suicide in Chicago, for example, because the situation there became too dire for them.
But, now, states are finally “getting it,” as it were.
The Washington Post outlines a number of much-needed changes on the horizon.
For example, Florida is looking to pass a bill that would stop civilian-run police review boards (giving them proper control again); Louisiana legislators put together a law that would make it tougher to sue police officers (like you and me, most of them are just trying to do their job).
Additionally, cities like Portland, Oregon have promised to turn around their police budgets after seeing the fallout from criminal activity.
Even San Francisco and New York are starting to “get it,” to some extent, with the former working on less restrictive police policies and the latter bringing in National Guard to help track down criminals in the subway system.
These are all good initiatives when it comes to giving the police what they need to do their jobs; namely with proper gear and mental health support!
But apparently the work is far from over.
Some states — particularly those run by Democrats (blue states), continue to believe in the “Defund the Police!” mantra, thinking that law enforcement is part of the problem versus the genuine solution to lawlessness, disorder — and the violence — that goes with it!
Indeed, look at the fallout emanating from that.
Some police departments are now working “barebones,” with tired, worn-out staffing.
Others have done away with their police department entirely, instead opting for a criminal control plan, one that doesn’t seem to be working at that.
Furthermore, President Joe Biden still refuses to believe that the country is falling apart — from crime.
During his recent State of the Union address, Biden noted how there has been a sharp decrease in the national murder rate, and that violent crime has dropped to “one of the lowest levels in more than 50 years.”
To address these two statements:
First, notice that Biden was pointing more towards murder in general, and not assaults, sexual abuse, or other crimes running rampant.
His focus was on one general statistic, and even then, such numbers can vary by state.
Then we have violent crime dropping to “one of the lowest levels” in over “50 years.”
Just what chart is he reading?
All I see in the news nowadays are people that have committed heinous crimes, and how there aren’t enough police to cover all the bases.
I’m just surprised that Biden didn’t say something about funding the police when he was making his speech.
He boasts about how crime-free the United States is, and yet we’re witnessing an increasingly worsening migrant crisis.
Concurrently, we watch cities like San Francisco and Seattle, among others, pay a high price.
Biden’s just been telling you what you needed to hear, instead of offering legitimate solutions.
While progress is being made to return police ranks back to their proper forms and levels, more work needs to be done. In that regard Biden needs to quickly step up to the plate.
Please, let’s just stop messing around, grant police the budgets and tools they need top effectively do their jobs.
We have a job to do, to protect and serve America.
Let us do so again.
Michael Letts is the Founder and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots nonprofit organization helping to re-fund police by contributing thousands of bulletproof vests for police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Read More Michael Letts reports — Here.
